The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Fuel filter location & type ? 1954 270 CI

1954 2 ton flatbed. Replacing with new the fuel tank, mechanical pump & sending unit. The sending unit has the screen on the pick up tube and I quess this is the only stock filter. The pump did not have a glass bowl / filter so I want to add a aftermarket filter and just thought i would install one in the line right before the pump.

Any suggestions on the best location or what filter to use. It has a stock 270 engine.

Thanks

welcome to the garage papa - the optional glass bowl/ ceramic element inline filter was mounted just before the carb, any standard inline filter from your local parts store will do the job

Bill

Welcome papamac, my filter is also just before the carb. I purchased a glass bowl type, my insurance agent frowns on the plastic ones, especially in that location.

I'll move this from the welcome centre to the engine shop for you. Good luck.

Leo

Welcome to the forum, papamac -

As was noted, any parts house will have a filter that will work. But if you want a more period correct filter, here is another long winded reply to a short answer question ...

Search ebay for "glass bowl filter" or "Durex filter" (if you search only for "Durex" when searching devices to protect your engine, you will get hits for protection for a different type of engine) Good filters show up fairly often. Although there are not a lot currently listed.

Here are instructions for installing a gas filter shown in the 1951 Accessories Installation Manual. The same instructions are in the 1954 Acc Inst Man, not available on line. Looks like GM did not update the info. GM did not produce the filter in the pic after 1949. The bend and cut in the fuel line and the 60-deg fitting were to simplify the connection and to avoid hitting the horn mounted on the intake manifold. The 1954 horn was moved to a location behind the grill, so that was not relevant. The 60-deg fitting is no longer available. So bend a new line between the pump and the filter and use a 90-deg or 45-deg fitting.
> Gas Filter - 1951 Accessories Installation Manual

Replace the cork gasket between the filter body and the glass bowl if it gets dry after using. It will shrivel like a corn flake and will never flatten out. I can send you a pattern for cutting a new one for a Durex 986640.

If you want to be "period correct," then this is the type of filter that would have been sold by the Chevrolet dealer for your '54.
> GM part #986640, Durex Moraine gas filter
> Durex 986640 on the 235 in my '54 3104

A Durex filter with a short glass bowl and thumb screw that went through the bowl to hold it to the body was produced from about 1940 to 1949.
> GM part #986128 Durex Moraine gas filter
> Durex 986128 on Curt Warren's 1948 1.5-ton Loadmaster

GM started producing filters with the "AC" logo in 1956. A number of styles were made. Some with dome tops, some with flatter tops. Reproductions with paper filters are sold by most suppliers. Some are logoed with "AC", some are plain.

Since fuel filters were dealer installed, other types would have also been used on your '54.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Carter, AC repro, Durex 986640, Durex 986128
> Glass bowl filters (spring is incorrectly upside down in the Durex 986640)
> Same filters open

The Carter filter in the pic is one version of the many that Carter made. Later ones were painted red.
> Carter "Red Top" on Mark Hatfield's 1949 Canadian Built Chevy 1434 (3804 US equivalent)

Chevs of the 40's and Ecklers have the clips to bind the vac line to the fuel line.
> Clips

FYI - The glass bowl does not have to be completely full to work
> Video of fuel levels in my glass bowl filter and pump

Good luck with you filter.